Sailing: Clipper Race fleet leaves South Africa and is on course for Fremantle

Three of the boats take off from South Africa on their way to Fremantle.

THE third stage of the Clipper 2017-18 Race, Race 3 -The Dell Latitude Rugged Race, has started its trek from Cape Town to Fremantle.

The race across the Southern Ocean is seen as the first major test of the 11 month adventure around the globe.

The 12 Clipper Race teams will head into the notorious ‘Roaring Forties’, which is respected by sailors as one of the best places to appreciate Mother Nature.

A total of 222 crew, including 17 Australians, are taking part in the race to Fremantle, which is the first of four Australian stopovers included on the Clipper Race’s 40,000 nautical mile global route.

Local Trevor Taylor, who is on board PSP Logistics, hoped he would do alright coming into Fremantle.

“We will just have to work hard,” he said.

“We have got a new Skipper Matt Mitchell who has done this section of the Clipper Race twice before, he will bring a bit to the table.

“Hopefully we can build on what he’s achieved previously and go from there.”

The Clipper Race fleet of 12 70 foot ocean racing yachts is expected to arrive in Fremantle between November 21-25 and will be berthed at the Fremantle Sailing Club.

Taylor, a member of the Fremantle Sailing Club, said it would be an amazing stopover for everyone.

“The Fremantle Sailing Club is world class and the facilities are as good as anywhere,” he said.

The Clipper Race fleet will depart from Fremantle for Sydney on Saturday 2 December, and then join the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day, before ending the All-Australian Leg 4 with a sprint up the east coast from Hobart to the Whitsundays.